BSTI orders withdrawal of 10 products from market for failing quality standards

Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) has ordered the withdrawal of 10 products, including spices from Bombay Sweets and Baghabari ghee, from the market for failing to meet the standards set according to Bangladesh standards in laboratory tests. Additionally, show-cause notices have been issued asking why the BSTI-issued licences for these products should not be cancelled. BSTI has advised consumers to refrain from purchasing these products as they have been proven to be substandard in tests.

The information was conveyed in a press release from BSTI on Wednesday, August 26.

The release stated that recently, as part of its regular surveillance, BSTI collected products from various companies from the market and tested them in its own state-of-the-art laboratories, which meet international standards. The tests found the quality of several products to be satisfactory. However, the quality of some brands of ghee, butter oil and spices was found to be substandard, failing the tests. Laboratory tests showed that Baghabari's 'ghee' contained no ghee (milk fat); it is being marketed as 'ghee' but is made from palm olein and vegetable ghee. Additionally, Bombay Sweets' spices were found to be substandard in various parameters compared to the Bangladesh Standard (BDS).

According to the results of BSTI laboratory tests, the following Bombay Sweets and Co Ltd products failed: Curry Powder (duck meat masala, batch no. 141224), Tehari Masala (batch no. 140226), Kala Bhuna Masala (batch no. 260927), Beef Masala (batch-A) and Fish Masala (batch no-A) — failing due to excessive levels of total ash and salt according to Bangladesh standards.

The manufacturers of substandard ghee and butter oil include: Baghabari Premium Ghee Company's 'Baghabari' brand ghee, Kishoreganj Food Products' 'Arun Baghabari' brand ghee, Messrs Mamun Food Product's 'New Radhuni' brand ghee, Messrs Mamun Food Product's 'City' brand ghee, and Elders Food Products and Packaging Industries' 'Elders' brand butter oil. These ghees failed various parameters according to Bangladesh standards. Tests found that refractive index, iodine value, saponification value and Polenske value of these products were outside the prescribed limits.

On this matter, BSTI Director General (Secretary) Kazi Imdadul Haque said, "Maintaining the quality of products according to national standards is the legal and moral responsibility of every licensed establishment. If any establishment fails in this responsibility, BSTI is determined to take necessary legal action. Along with issuing quality certificates, BSTI continues strict surveillance to prevent counterfeiting and adulteration."

The BSTI Director General advised consumers to check BSTI's certification mark, licence number, date of manufacture, expiry date, product ingredients and other necessary information before purchasing any product. He also urged consumers to promptly inform BSTI of any complaints regarding product quality, adulteration, fraud or misuse of BSTI's certification mark by calling the hotline at 16119 or emailing dg@bsti.gov.bd.